Today on the Bands — Thursday, July 30, 2026
Thursday brings a healthy mix of the practical and the philosophical: choosing the right rig, sorting out new UK callsign prefixes, and pondering whether ham radio YouTube has hit peak saturation. Throw in a Friedrichshafen recap, a couple of word-spelling QSLs, and a youth essay contest, and there's something here for every corner of the shack.
- 01 From the Customer Service Rep Perspective: Questions to Ask When Choosing a Transceiver
A customer service rep's insider take on the right questions to ask before buying a transceiver, handy whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned op eyeing an upgrade.
Read at source ↗ - 02 QSLs: WA2PAY, W3SKY
Two colorful Florida QSL cards join KB6NU's collection of calls that spell actual words, a charming reminder that paper QSLs still delight.
Read at source ↗ - 03 ICQPodcast Episode 487 – A Taste of Ham Radio Friedrichshafen
ICQPodcast serves up Friedrichshafen flavor and news that Germany may regain the full 4-meter band, a slice of spectrum the Brits clearly adore.
Read at source ↗ - 04 Monday Night Net 20 October 2025 Report
Essex Ham let an AI write up their Monday net report, a fun experiment in whether the machines can capture the friendly chaos of herding on-air cats.
Read at source ↗ - 05 Intermediate M8 and M9 Callsigns Now Available
Ofcom has opened up M8 and M9 callsigns for UK Intermediates, letting holders swap their 2x0 or 2x1 calls for a fresh prefix.
Read at source ↗ - 06 Thoughts on the Saturation of Ham Radio YouTube
N0SSC offers a candid, profanity-warned reflection on whether ham radio YouTube has become oversaturated, worth a read if you've ever felt content fatigue.
Read at source ↗ - 07 First Annual “Dream Rig” Youth Essay Contest (Press Release from Intrepid-DX Group)
The Intrepid-DX Group's inaugural "Dream Rig" youth essay contest aims to inspire young operators, a nice nod to growing the next generation of DXers.
Read at source ↗
The HamDaily digest — five minutes, the whole band.